A 59th minute strike from Salisu Abubakar was all that ECN Global Academy U17 boys needed to emerge champions of the 7th edition of the ECN/Gwagwalada Coaches U17 Football Tournament, defeating Medical Strikers Feeders by a lone goal in a pulsating final.
The keenly contested match, witnessed by a capacity crowd, lived up to expectations as both sides displayed skill, resilience and tactical discipline. Medical Strikers Feeders dominated proceedings in the first half, launching dangerous incursions that could have resulted in goals. However, the well-organised defensive network of the ECN side stood firm, repelling wave after wave of attacks to ensure the first stanza ended goalless.
On resumption of the second half, the ECN boys returned with renewed determination, taking the game to their opponents and pressing higher up the pitch. Their persistence paid off in the 59th minute when Salisu Abubakar rose to the occasion, converting beautifully from a corner kick to send the crowd into wild celebrations.
The lone strike proved decisive as ECN maintained composure and defensive solidity to see out the game and lift the coveted trophy.
The epic final attracted several prominent dignitaries, including the Deputy Director of Sports in the FCT, Iyiola Ogundele; National Secretary General of SWAN, Ikenna Okonkwo; immediate past General Manager of FRCN Bida, Abdulrasheed Abdulkareem; former SWAN Secretary General, Andrew Abah; former Super Falcons defender, Adanna Nwaneri Nna who represented the Chairman of FCT Coaches; and Babatunde Akintade, member representing North Central on the NLO Board, among others.
Speaking at the end of the the sponsors of the tournament, Patrick Ngwaogu (Odogwu), who is the Executive Director of ECN Global Ventures Limited, publishers of Exclusive News Online Newspaper, expressed satisfaction with the growth of the competition, assuring that the tournament would continue to improve yearly.
He commended the 16 teams that participated and pledged that outstanding talents identified during the competition would receive support to advance their careers in bigger clubs.
ECN Academy further underlined their dominance by clinching four individual awards. Olowe Michael emerged as Best Goalkeeper, Hamza Alhassan finished as Highest Goal Scorer, Moses Davis was named Most Valuable Player, while Yussuf Aliyu Baba was adjudged Best Coach of the tournament.
Medical Strikers Feeders, despite losing the final, were recognised for their exemplary conduct and were awarded the Best Behaved Team of the tournament.
